Extractor loading and unloading equipment



June 9, 1942. s. M. wHr-:LAN

EXTRACTOR LOADING AND UNLOADING EQUIPMENT Filed July l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1942. G M WHELAN I 2,285,547

EXTRACTOR LOADING AND UNLOADING EQUIPMENT Filed July 1, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 ein Il g, il, l 1l il INVENTOR 650265 A/7. lA/HL/m v BY u@ (f MQ AT ORNEY Patented June 9, 1942 EXTRACTOR LOADING AND UNLOADING EQUIPMENT George Milton Whelan, Bothell, Wash., assigner of one-half to North Coast Cleaners & Dyers, Inc., Seattle, Wash.','a corporation of Washington Application Jlily 1, 1940, Serial No. 343,391

(Cl. 21o-76).

Claims.

This invention relates to means 4designed to expedite and facilitate the handling of garments, laundry or other articles during a cleaning and washing operation, and it has reference more particularly to means for loading articles of clothing or laundry into and from an extractor of the centrifugal type; it being the principal object of this invention to provide a novel piece of equipment that provides for the handling of garments, and the like, easily and expeditiously by mechanical means instead of by hand as is usually done in laundries and cleaning establishments in the loading and unloading of an extractor.

More specifically stated, the objects of the present invention reside in the provision of article handling equipment for the purpose above stated, wherein a plurality of bags of net-like construction, are attached to a handling frame whereby all may be lifted as a unit for the disposal in or removal of articles from the extractor, and wherein means is provided for dumping or discharging articles from the bags, from the lower ends thereof, while the bags and their supporting frame are held in suspension.

Another objectof the invention is to so design the frame structure and to so attach the bags thereto that the load of articles will be evenly distributed when located in the extractor and will be maintained against any undesirable shifting of weight that would cause undue vibration of or strain on the extractor in operation. Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for holding the ends of the bags closed while in the extractor, or during the handling of the load. Furthermore, to provide means which may be easily and readily released for a simultaneous discharge of contents from all bags.

Still other objects reside in the combination of parts embodied in the extractor and load handling equipment.

Further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of parts, in their combination, and mode of use, especially in combination with an extractor, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

whereinl Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of an extractor in which the loading and unloading equipment embodying the present invention is disposed, in position for an extracting operation. 56

Fig. 2 is a side view of the article containing bags and their handling frame; showing the lower ends of the bags in open condition as for the discharge of a load.

Fig. 3 isla view of the same parts, showing the bags as closed at their lower ends, as for lifting a load into or from the extractor.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, cross sectional view taken on the line 4--6 in Fig. 2, illustrating the relationship of the four bags and showing the ring which `connects the lower end portions of the bags together.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the bag handling frame, with bags attached, and showing the top of one bag secured in closed condition.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the present device is designed for use in connection with the handling of articles of clothing and laundry during the process of cleaning or washing them, and is intended more particularly for use in connection with mechanical means for effecting the disposition of a heavy load of wet trated, or in modified form, might be adapted for the handling of clothes in washing machines or other equipment where it is advantageous to retain the laundry or clothes in segregated lots, or where weight of wet articles would make lifting by hand a diicult and slow process.

In Fig. l, I have illustrated a common type of extractor of the centrifugal type, as commonly used in laundries or cleaning establishments. In this view, I designates the extractor bowl, supported for `axial rotation in an enclosing housing 2. The bowl walls, especially the side walls, are provided with closely disposed perforations 3 for the discharge of water extracted from the garments during the drying operation, and the housing 2 has a drainy or outlet as at 4, for the outflow of the water or liquid received from the extractor bowl. The bowl also has a somewhat restricted top opening 5, of substantial diameter, to permit the disposal of the bags of laundry therein, and the housing likewise is equipped with an opening 6, and a cover as designated at 1, may be hinged to the housing and closed Vover this latter opening when such is desired.

Thebowl is adapted to be revolved at high speed to effect the extraction of moisture from articles contained therein. In the present instance, the bowl is equipped with a central vertical supporting shaft l, mounted in bearings as designated at l and 9a, and is driven by belt I0 operating over a pulley I I fixed thereon.

Centrally within the bowl is a vertical post I2 which. as later will be understood, coacts with the present bag holding frame in retaining the four bag load centered in the bowl during the extracting operation; it being understood that it is important to maintain an even distribution in order that undue vibration will not result when the extractor is in operation.

It will here be mentioned that it is the general practise today in the washing and cleaning of garments or other articles, to rst place them in a tub for an initial soaking or cleaning treatment. From this tub, they are transferred by hand to the extractor. Then, after the water or 'cleaning fluid has been expelled therefrom by the action of the extractor, the articles are lifted out by hand. 'I'he present invention contemplates that when the articles are removed from the first mentioned piece of equipment, they shall be placed in the net-like bags and kept there until after being dried in the extractor. Furthermore, it contemplates that the several bags be handled mechanically and as a unit in lifting them into and from the extractor.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, it will be undersood that in the present piece of equipment, there are four bags employed for containing the articles to be dried. These bags are designated in Fig. 4 by reference numerals I5, I6, Il and I8, respectively. Each bag is of net-like formation, preferably woven of a good grade of twine, in tubular form, and open at both ends. At its lower end, each ofthe four bags is secured about its edge to a continuous chain or cable I9 of a flexible nature, and by reference to Fig. 4, it will be understood that the chains of the four bags are inter-connected at the center of the group by a ring 20, the use of which will presently be explained.

At their upper ends, the bags are all attached to a handling frame structure or spider 22 which comprises four arms extending radially from a common central axis. Each arm of the spider comprises a frame of triangular form, as will be4 understood by reference to Fig. 3, and these four frames are rigidly secured at their inner ends to an upper and a lower ring 25 and 26. The rings are vertically, axially alined and disposed in parallel, horizontal planes, and in spaced relationship; the upper ring having a diameter approximately one-half that of the lower ring. The four triangular frames extend radially from the central, vertical axis at equal angular spacings as understood by reference to Fig. 5, and the four bottom bars of the triangular frames lie in the same horizontal plane.

The four bags are disposed within the four angular areas formed by the arms of the frame structure, and the upper end portion of each bag is attached to the adjacent radial arms and to the lower ring` 2li in such manner as to hold the upper end of the bag normally open.

A continuous chain 29 is applied about the spider frame, attached at equally spaced intervals therealong to the outer ends of the radial arms, and the outer portions of the upper ends of each bag is attached to that length of chain between the radial arms that define the area within which the bag is located. Also, secured to the chain at points medial of the arms, are

hooks 30. The length of the chain between adjacent arms of the spider is such as. to provide a certain amount of/ slack that will permit the hooks 30 to be applied over the top ring, thereby to draw the top of the bag to a closed position, as will .be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 5.

In using the present equipment, assuming it is desired to flll the bags with articles preparatory to a drying operation in the extractor, the spider frame structure is ld suspended, and the ring 20 which joins the our chains which individually encircle and are attached to the lower ends of the several bags, is applied over a hook or post 35 that is fixed to the lower ring of the frame, to extend upwardly therefrom, thus to fold the lower end portions of all the bags upwardly, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3, and to hold them closed.

Then, while the upper ends of the bags are open, the bags are filled with the articles of clothing or laundry that is to be dried. The upper ends of the bags are then closed by applying the hooks 30 over the top ring 25. The whole device may then be lifted as a unit to a position directly over the extractor, and then lowered into position within the extractor, as illustrated in Fig. 1. It is to be explainedthat, to adapt the extractor to use of the spider frame and bags in accordance with this invention, the extractor is equipped centrally with the vertical post I2 which extends through the central rings 25 and 26 of the spider frame when the frame is lowered into the extractor.

With the frame so disposed, it will be understood that the four bags will be held in position and against relative shifting of weight that would cause undesirable vibration in the operation of the extractor.

With the bags and their contents thus disposed in the extractor, the bowl may be revolved at a high rate to centrifugally dissipate the liquid from the articles through the perforations of the extractor bowl into the enclosing housing. After the articles have thus been dried, the frame may be lifted directly up through the top openings of the extractor and housing, and it may then be swung to the side and the ring 20 lifted from the post 35 which allowed the lower ends of the bags to fall and thus the loads to be discharged from the lower open ends of the bags.

For the handling of the spider and the bags attached thereto, any suitable kind of hoist may be employed. It has been found quite practical to employ an air hoist and to equip its piston rod at the lower end with a hook as indicated at 50, in Fig. 2, for engaging the ring 25. However, the type of hoist is not material to the use of the device.

Devices of this character may be made in various sizes and may be made to embody any suitable number of bags and it will be understood that the equipment makes it possible to easily and economically handle articles in a cleaning operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a lifting spider, a tubular, open end bag secured at its upper end to said spider for suspension thereby and for the reception of articles through that end for discharge at its lower end, and means on the spider adapted to support the lower end portion of the container in an. up-

wardly folded position for the retention oi the articles in the container and means applied to the bag at its upper end for application to the spider to retain that end of the bag closed, and releasable from the spider for opening the bag.

2. In a device of the character described, a lifting spider, a tubular, open end container, with walls of open mesh formation, secured along a portion of the periphery of the upper end opening to the spider for support and reception of articles through that end, a post on the spider, a flexible band secured to the periphery of the open lower end of the container, and 'means attached to the band and adapted to be removably applied over said post to support the lower end portion of the container in an upwardly folded position for the retention of articles therein and means on the spider for securement thereto of the free edge portion about the upper end opening of the bag for retaining that end closed.

3. A device of the -character described, comprising a spider frame, a plurality of tubular, open end containers, with walls of open mesh formation, attached at their upper ends to the frame for suspension therefrom, means `joining the lower end portions of the several containers, and means on the frame to which said joining means may be removably applied to support the lower end portions of the containers in an upwardly folded position for retention of articles in the containers.

4. A device'of the character described comprising a spider frame having a plurality of radial arms, a plurality of tubular open end bags corresponding to and located in the spaces between radial arms and secured at their upper ends to said arms for suspension from the frame and for reception of articles at that end, a exible band about the lower open end of each bag, a ring joining the bands of all bags, and a post on the frame over which said ring may be applied to support the lower end portions of the several bags in upwardly folded positions.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a spider frame having a plurality of equally spaced radially extending arms, an endless chain encircling the frame and secured at equal intervals to the ends of said radial arms, a plurality of tubular open end bags of open weave located in the spaces between the radial arms and secured about their upper end peripheries to said arms and to the length of chain between the arms, hooks 'ailxed to said chain at locations intermediate its connection with the arms, and applicable to parts of the frame adjacent the axis for closing the upper ends of the bags, and means on the frame for supporting the lower ends of the bags in upwardly folded positions for the retention of articles therein.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a spider frame having a plurality of equally spaced radially extending arms. an endloss chain encircling the frame and secured at equal intervals to the ends of said radial arms, a plurality of tubular open end bags of open weave located in the spaces between the radial arms and secured about their upper end peripheries to said arms and to the length of chain between the arms, hooks anlxed to saidchain at locations intermediate its connection with the arms, and applicable to parts of the frame adjacent the axis for closing the upper ends of the bags, a flexible band secured about the lower end periphery of each bag, a ring joining all bands, and a post on the frame over which said ring is applicable to support the lower end portions of all bags in an upwardly folded position.

7. In combination, a centrifugal extractor having an axial post therein, a spider frame applicable over said post, and a plurality of article containing bags open at their upper and lower ends, attached at their upper ends to said spider frame for lifting thereby into and from the extractor and having means at their lower ends for application to the spider for the upfolding of the lower end portions of the bags.

8. In combination, a centrifugal extractor having an axial post therein, a spider frame having a central opening to receive said post and having arms extending radially from said opening, and article containing bags, located between said arms and secured thereto for suspension by the frame; said bags being open at upper and lower ends, and means for releasably securing the lower end portions of the bags to the spider to hold them in a back folded position for the retention of articles in the bags.

9. In combination, a centrifugal extractor comprising a bowl having a top opening and having a vertical post centrally in the bowl, a spider frame having a central opening for reception of the post and having a plurality of radial arms equally spaced about the central opening, a plurality of bags of tubular form, open at upper and lower ends, with walls of open mesh construction, applied to the spider frame between the radial arms, each bag being attached at its top end to the spider arms, a chain band encircling the lower end of each bag, a ring joining all of said bands and a post on the spider for application of the ring thereover to support the lower end portions of all bags in upwardly folded positions for the retention of articles therein.

10. In combination, a centrifugal extractor comprising a bowl having a top opening and having a vertical post centrally in the bowl, a spider frame having a central opening for reception of the post and having a plurality of radial arms equally spaced about the central opening, a plurality of bags of tubular form, open at upper and lower ends, with walls of open mesh construction, applied to the spider frame between the radial arms, each bag being attached at its top end to the spider arms, a chain band encircling the lower end of each bag, a ring joining all of said bands and a post on the spider for application of the ring thereover to support the lower end portions of all bags in upwardly folded positionsnfor the retention of articles therein, and an endless chain encircling the spider and secured to the ends of said radial arms, and having the outer, upper end portions of the bags secured thereto, and hooks on said chain, between the said arms, adapted to be applied to said spider to close the top ends of the bags.

GEORGE MILTON WI-IELAN. 

